Aboyne members hear Rotary history

The Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside recently had the pleasure of a brief history of the origins of Rotary International from a family perspective.

Ann Silcock, a resident of Aboyne and her brother Iain Howe told the club about their great uncle Paul Harris.

Ann and Iain brought along some impressive memorabilia including an oil painting of Paul Harris which Iain remembers hanging on the wall of his father’s study when he was a small boy.

Paul Harris is the founder of Rotary International, having formed the first Rotary club in Chicago in 1905. Since then, initially through his efforts, it has grown into a worldwide service organisation with around 1.2 million members in more than 32,400 clubs in 162 countries.

The Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside was formed in 1983. At the same meeting as the presentation the Club also had the pleasure of inducting and welcoming new member, Ruth Powell.